Plan ahead to find the best routes into the city and make a list of what to see close to the university campus. Take a historic tour and see the opera house and old theaters, and stroll through the many parks dotted around Salem.
Portland International Airport is just an hour's drive from the north, passing along the I-5. Willamette University is very close to the state capitol building and the downtown core. The immediate area also houses the Hallie Ford Museum of Art.
Most visitors to Salem come for its magnificent historic sites. The city's website has an excellent map detailing the points of interest in the Downtown Salem Historic District, including classic theaters, the opera house, and the colorful Adolph Block Building.
Whether you're in a car or walking around, pretty Salem will inspire you. Bush's Pasture Park is the place for a baseball game and a stroll, spanning acres of greenland and orchards, while larger Minto-Brown Park's woodlands are ideal for active visitors looking to cycle or hike.
There are two major shopping centers in the city: Salem Center Mall and Lancaster Mall. Salem Saturday Market and Salem Public Market (the state's oldest) are open Saturday mornings and offer the best of local produce.
